Irish Life & Lore - Voices from the Archive

An Irish Olympic champion for the ages, Ronnie Delaney won Gold in the 1500m at the Summer Olympics in Melbourne in 1956.  He was recorded for Irish Life and Lore in 2019 at the RDS in Dublin. This podcast features details of his young life, leading up to that memorable gold medal win. 

Muriel McCarthy was indeed an institution at Marsh's Library, having worked there for 44 years. She was responsible for the upkeep and survival of a national treasure. Muriel was recorded at the Library in 2012.

Vincent tells a fascinating story about his father, his naval experiences during WWI, and being unable to settle after returning to his farm in Kerry. His subsequent migration to Meath, leaving his family behind, is discussed in detail.

A descendant of the Guinness brewing family, Desmond Guinness was a conservationist who achieved much in helping to save some of our fine Irish Georgian buildings from falling into ruin.  His legacy is extraordinary.

This podcast features sound clips of an oral history recoding we compiled with Andrew Kavanagh, a descendant of the ancient Irish McMorrough Kavanagh family who retained possession of their lands at Borris, Co. Carlow since the 16th century. The podcast also includes the voice of Pat Murphy, who farmed the land as did his people before him, near the Borris Estate.

Using sound clips from the Irish Life and Lore Archive, in this podcast, Kerryman Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty and his extraordinary and dangerous work is recalled by Sr. Noreen Dennehy who speaks for the first time about her experiences of working with him in helping to shelter Jews from the Nazis in Rome during WW11.Monsignor O'Flaherty's nephew, also named Hugh O'Flaherty, is also included in this podcast.

In a gripping recording compiled at his Dublin home, Dr. James Sheehan recalls and describes exciting in medicine in the 1960s and 70s in Ireland. He grew up in Kerry and in adulthood he became fascinated with bioengineering artificial joint improvement.Working in the U.K.under Sir John Charnley, recognised as the founder of modern hip replacement, in the U.K., he brought back to Dublin his expertise which he put to excellent use in Ireland.

John Bellingham was a remarkable man. He lived at Glencara, Mullingar and in a 19th century cottage on the Hill of Howth, Co. Dublin. This podcast includes excerpts of recordings compiled in both locations. John was a wonderful conversationalist and his recent passing marked the end of an era among the Irish Landed Gentry.